Intravascular migration of fragments of central venous catheters. 3 cases

Intravascular embolization of catheter fragments is a severe and rare complication of indwelling intravenous catheters. The estimated rate of incidence is 0,1% of central venous catheter insertions. This report of three cases shows how this complication may occur and suggests preventive measures. Mortality from arrhythmia-related cardiac arrest, septic and thrombo-embolic complications, and the risk of perforation of the heart argue for an immediate extraction of the broken catheter. Surgical removal used to be the only method; a non-surgical technique is now available, in which the embolized fragment is removed by means of a loop snare. No death has been associated with this technique which seems to be safe and reliable.